Chinese giant, Xiaomi, has become quite popular in the Indian market for the value for money factor. They offer high specs at rates as low as half of what major brands offer. Their self-cooked OS, MIUI, is also refreshing and much more user-friendly. But, when it comes to timely upgrade of Android OS version on its existing devices, Xiaomi is a big let-down. Xiaomi has been following a pattern of giving timely MIUI updates, but saving the Android version upgrade for its flagship launches.
Unlike Vivo, which too fares poorly in the OS upgrade section, Xiaomi doesn’t totally ditch its customers. A weekly iteration of the MIUI is released, which incorporates security updates and UI upgrades. This clearly differentiates Xiaomi from other 2nd tier brands in the smartphone market.
Android Nougat and Marshmallow for Xiaomi Devices
Like we already mentioned, Xiaomi is reluctant to push OS upgrades to existing devices. This means that Xiaomi has Marshmallow only on the devices launched in last quarter of 2016. With the 2016 flagship Xiaomi devices sporting the Snapdragon 820 chipsets, they look quite capable of handling Nougat, and with Google deciding to benchmark OEMs by the frequency of Android updates pushed, Xiaomi may be forced to change its habits!
| Device | Android 7.0 Nougat update | Android 6.0 Marshmallow update |
| Mi 5s Plus | Likely | Likely |
| Mi 5s | Likely | Likely |
| Mi 5 | Available | Likely |
| Mi 4s | Confirmed | Skipped |
| Mi 4i | Likely | Unlikely |
| Mi 4c | Confirmed | Skipped |
| Mi Max | Likely | Likely |
| Mi Mix | Likely | Likely |
| Mi Note Pro | No | Unlikely |
| Mi Note 2 | Likely | Yes |
| Mi Note | No | No |
| Mi Pad 2 | No | Unlikely |
| Redmi Pro | Unlikely | Yes |
| Redmi 4a | Unlikely | Pre-installed |
| Redmi 4 Prime | Unlikely | Pre-installed |
| Redmi 4 | Unlikely | Pre-installed |
| Redmi 3x | Unlikely | Pre-installed |
| Redmi 3s Prime | Unlikely | Pre-installed |
| Redmi 3s | Unlikely | Pre-installed |
| Redmi 3 Pro | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Redmi 3 | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Redmi 2A | No | No |
| Redmi 2 Pro | No | No |
| Redmi 2 Prime | No | No |
| Redmi 2 | No | No |
| Redmi Note Prime | No | No |
| Redmi Note 4 | Yes | Likely |
| Redmi Note 3 (MediaTek) | No | Unlikely |
| Redmi Note 3 | No | Unlikely |
| Redmi Note 2 | No | Unlikely |
Xiaomi Mi Series
The Mi 5/5s/Plus is most likely to receive Android Nougat, with MIUI 9, rumoured to be in testing, housing Snapdragon 820. The Mi 5 Nougat Update is available for download. This could happen in Q1 2017 with most likelihood. However, instead of starting the testing with MIUI 9, Xiaomi is using the MIUI 8 to test Android 7.0 Nougat. Also, it is very likely that the next gen Xiaomi Mi6 will come pre-installed with MIUI 9 based on Android 7.0.
The company has also confirmed Nougat update for the Xiaomi Mi 4c and Mi 4s. A beta test build for the same should be released soon.
Xiaomi Mi Note Series
The premium series of Xiaomi, will receive an early bird Nougat update on Note 2, which already has Marshmallow pre-installed on it. The Snapdragon 821 chipset assures a Nougat update. However, Mi Note is redundant when it comes to update, still running on KitKat and Note Pro with Lollipop is beyond Xiaomi’s boundaries to be given a new life.
Xiaomi Redmi Series
The Redmi is a budget series of Xiaomi. Let the word “budget” not mislead you, it doesn’t mean cheap. These devices are essentially power packed but Xiaomi prices them aggressively. They are not expected to have a long life cycle, so do not expect Xiaomi to be bothered about changing its pattern of bringing new Android version to new devices in the series.
This would mean Redmi 4/4a/Prime all would remain on Marshmallow, since they only have Snapdragon 425 powering them. The predecessors, Redmi 3s/3s Prime/3x all might have to stay on Marshmallow. The Redmi 3/3 Pro look unlikely even to get Marshmallow and Redmi 2/2A/2 Pro/2 Prime can be considered redundant.
However, Redmi Pro stands a minor chance of upgrade as similar Helio X25 powered products, like the Meizu MX6 PRO, are lined up for Nougat update.
Xiaomi Redmi Note Series
Going by the Xiaomi rule of updates, expect only the latest Redmi Note 4 to receive Nougat update. Even though the Redmi Note 3 is technically capable for an upgrade, we would be pleasantly surprised if Xiaomi actually does that. Redmi Note 2 and Note Prime may be considered too old for Xiaomi to have a look at.
Xiaomi Mi Mix and Mi Max
We’re not sure yet if this is a series or going to be one off devices from Xiaomi. The Mi Mix is definitely a NextGen device which we expect to receive Nougat in the first lot of Xiaomi Nougat updates. The Mi Max has also been confirmed to get Android 7.0 Nougat very soon.
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